half quoted - i didnt presume that Prof Siras had committed suicide.

1. 3 TUESDAY, 13 APRIL, 2010. MUMBAI
www.mid-day.com METRO
GAYS SEEK
ANSWERS TO
PROF’S DEATH
The gay community,
along with activists,
begins an online
signature campaign
demanding justice
in the death of gay
professor Dr Siras
HEMAL ASHAR
hemal@mid-day.com
THE case of gay Aligarh
Muslim University (AMU)
professor’s death is getting MYSTERIOUS DEATH: Dr Srinivas Ramchandra Siras was under
more bizarre by the day. The
suspension on charges of homosexual acts at his house
gay community, along with
activists has upped their we commit.”
demand for justice after the The petition, has been THE CASE SO FAR
police revealed that they gaining popularity and sup-
found traces of poison in port after the police SIRAS was suspended from
Dr Srinivas Ramchandra announced that there were AMU on charges of
Siras’ (64) body. traces of poison in Siras’ body. homosexuality after a few
After a candlelight memo- Almost 800 persons have journalists filmed him having
rial was held in Mumbai over signed the petition by now. consensual sex with a man
the weekend, outraged aca- Many have also blamed the inside his house, in February.
demics, supporters, gays and AMU University in the peti- He had challenged the varsity
concerned citizens have start- tion. Mandira Jaisimha from
ed an online signature Hyderabad said, “I am
administration in the
campaign demanding justice. appalled, disgusted and Allahabad High Court. The
The petition is addressed to speechless.” But Graham professor was reinstated after
President Pratibha Patil as she Binning from Ohio, captures the court stayed his
is the chancellor of the AMU. the mood when he warns, suspension, a few days prior
Harish Iyer, gay rights “The world is watching, to his death.
activist, told MiD DAY, “It is India.”
absolutely appalling. We
want those who are responsi- Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com
ble for driving him to suicide, /AMUSiras /petition.html
to be held for culpable
homicide.”
Siras was under suspen- WHAT THEY WANT
sion on charges of
homosexual acts at his house. THE petition filed by
Journalists from a television Integrated Network of Sexual
channel filmed him having Minorities (INFOSEM), the
consensual sex with a man largest network of gay,
who was identified as a rick- lesbian, bisexual and
shaw puller. transgender groups in India,
Activist Lesley Esteves of
is addressed to President
Voices against Section 377,
Delhi, said India’s gay and les- Pratibha Patil and requests
bian community would for justice for the dignified
pursue justice for the profes- and law-abiding professor.
sor. “The professor was The petition states:
denied dignity to life and now - Immediate suspension of the
he has been denied dignity in vice-chancellor of AMU
death too,” he added. - A demand for a transparent
and open autopsy of the body
Global outrage of the late professor to
The case has sparked a global determine exact cause of
outrage. A signatory, Raj S death
writes, “As a former Indian - A sitting judge enquire into
citizen and someone who the circumstances of Siras’
came out of the closet in the suspension
US, I find it shameful that we - Constitute an enquiry by a
have to cope with this horror sitting judge or by the CBI
in modern-day India.” Aphia into the financial dealings of
Kumar, another signatory
the vice-chancellor
adds, “To sit quiet and let this
pass unnoticed is a crime that